PBS president Paula Kerger discussed the advantages and disadvantages of synchronizing Downton Abbey‘s air dates with the show’s U.K. premiere, and the immediate future of a Crawley matriarch has been settled.
From the Television Critics Association comes the news that PBS does not currently plan on synchronizing its airing of Downton Abbey with the drama’s original airtime in the U.K.
PBS president Paula Kerger addressed the possibility of airing Downton Abbey in the fall during the network’s session at the Winter TCA. Kerger admitted that PBS has been considering the move, but said that the network did not believe that a smaller gap between the UK and American air dates would benefit viewers.
“We’re not trying to punish our viewers,” Kerger said at the session, adding that the network wanted Downton to be “seen by as many people as possible.”
The problem, of course, is the proliferation of spoilers that become available after the episodes have aired in the U.K. Americans who procure the episodes via the internet also contribute to the likelihood of spoiler storylines and revealed surprises. But Kerger did not seem worried, comparing Downton Abbey to the Olympics as spoiler-resistant entertainment. “People knew the outcome,” she pointed out, “But watched them every night.”
As irritating as this delay is to American fans, Kerger’s hypothesis may be right. Downton Abbey‘s American premiere pulled in 7.9 million viewers, four times as high as PBS’s average premiere ratings. While an earlier air date is not out of the question, it seems unlikely given that PBS would prefer to avoid the divided attention in which the fresh crop of fall television might result.
In other (perhaps better) news, TVLine confirms that Dame Maggie Smith has signed on for a fourth season of the British drama. The news comes from Downton Abbey‘s executive producer Gareth Neame speaking after last night’s Golden Globes, at which Smith was named Best Supporting Actress for her work on the show.
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